My 84 4winns horizon 195 project.

The bottom sees the most abuse, so use the strongest filler you can. Fiberglass doesn't really dent though, so I'm curious what that really is. If it's just some factory imperfections then no big deal, but if something hit it and pushed it in then that's likely damage that needs fixed.

Pics?

MikeSchinlaub said:

The bottom sees the most abuse, so use the strongest filler you can. Fiberglass doesn't really dent though, so I'm curious what that really is. If it's just some factory imperfections then no big deal, but if something hit it and pushed it in then that's likely damage that needs fixed.

Pics?

Click to expand...

Its from the rollers on the transom when it rotted. I guess 40 years of sitting in the same spot took its toll. They're only about 1/8" depressions if that. I built up the support inside in those areas when I rebuilt the transom last year. I just want to smooth out the outside too. No stress cracks or anything are visible. I can try and get pictures later.

I imagine the root cause of it was over tightening the tiedowns on the trailer. The hammering of all the potholes and point loaded nature of the rollers seems like it eventually happens on all boats on that type of trailer.

Working on the trim now.


Oh and I test fit the subwoofer. No I'm not an obnoxious ahole blasting music everywhere i go. I'd just like a little fill on the bottom if I'm relaxing in a cove alone.

Gel coat repair kit.

Didn't do much this week but here's the cabin. My girls cat ate an onion and I stayed with him all day tuesday. Otherwise I'd probably have most everything done....

Been following. Good work . Looks awesome.
curious to see how the trim pieces look when complete.

Yesterday was a good day... just not for the boat. Finished putting dad's wave runner back together so he could go out today. First time he's been out on it in almost 3 years. He had the spine fusions done last year and is finally feeling up to it. So that's good.

Today, I finished the majority of the trim work. What isn't finished you cant see here anyway. So it looks done. All thats left are the cushions.

The trim brings everything together imo.

Cabin is finished:

Rolled a couple of coats of gelcoat on the bottom where it was worn through. Finished up last night. I'll probably block it monday and paint the bottom and be done with that. Nothing crazy. I sanded the indents at the back and just used a skim coat of filler and rolled gel over that. Used a 2 foot to block sand and true it up to the rest of the bottom again. Came out good. I forgot to take before photos but is what it is. Supposed to be upper 90s next couple of days so at least the paint will dry quick.

Rolled two coats on the bottom. The hull is obviously too damaged to strip back to gelcoat... as much as I'd like to anyway, the blue actually looks quite nice on this boat. I typically don't like bottom paint but this is one of the few where it didn't bother me to be there.

Before:

As you can see... pretty bad.

After:

I sat back, looking at it between coats drying and just couldn't help myself. Boat has damn good lines.

So engine was swung. No leak found. Leaks with engine in though... breakup started again but before that I went out and tested the hull with the now repaired "dents". Result? The little bit of chine walking I got in turns is gone and off the trailer not trying I picked up 2mph up top. My best runs before were half tank, just me and no extra gear. This was all electronics, cabin finished and stereo in. Nearly 400lbs of extra gear and running that much better is awesome. No other changes were made. So I'd say that was worth the time.

Now to just fix all the other crap.

Catching up, pulling and installing the engine:


Cleaned and painted:


Sketchy...


Started on revealing the windshield:


And the leak hopefully:

Wheeled out the hull and deck. Burned through on the deck in a few places. (Knew it was getting thin, just made the small spots ever so slightly larger)


I've avoided wheeling it as just a light wax was enough to remove the minor surface oxidation I get but between the engine swap in 23, the rebuild in 24 and all the other crap this year, I hadn't kept up and it needed a true buff.

I have light swirling when the sun hits it just right but its more than good enough for a 41 year old boat now. A re-gelcoat will eventually happen but that's down the line. If I can get another 5 years like this I'll be happy.

Only things left on the punch list are the bow rail fittings, I have them just have to install them.

The rest of the windshield reseal.

Re-spray the vinyl on the side boxes as I ran out and the top edge peeled off due to not enough material.

Oil the teak and vaccum/clean the interior.

I also have to re-respray the drive as it all peeled off the lower but that's a winter project.